Gill drawing frame



DCC. 16, 1952 R Q BERKER GILL DRAWING FRAME Filed Oct. 25, 1951 INVENToR. /Q aa C. 5e ff? er A T TOF?N`/S.

Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GILL DRAWING FRAME Ralph 1C. Berker, Hoxsie, R. I.

App1ieation`0ctober25, 1951, Serial No. 253,041

(Cl. 19--129v) Claims. 1

The invention relates to improvements ingill drawing frames, particularly in the means for applying pressure on the top roller of the drawing rollers of a gill drawing frame.

The usual set of drawing rollers -of a gill draw.- ing frame comprise lowervsteel rollers and atop pressure roller which may be made 0f a rubber or rubber-like synthetic type of material for providing a yielding surface .contact with the slivers being drafted. The pressure on the top roller is usually provided by means of Van individually adjustable compression spring at `each end of the top roller to apply an adjustable pressure thereon. It is necessary when the machine is to remain at rest for any considerable lengthof time, such as over night or a weekend,torelease the .Pressure of the springs on the top roller because such pressure on the top roller with the machine at rest will tend to produce an undesirable permanent iat in the surface `of the top roller at the point of contact therewith with the bottom roller or rollers. This requires individual readjustment the next time `the rollers are to be used.

A general object of the inventionis to provide a means for applying a resilient force onlthe top roller of the drafting set of rollers of a gillframe, which force may be controlled from asingle point to quickly release the force and return it without disturbing the adjustment of the spring pressure which supplies the force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for applying a resilient force on the top roller of the drafting rollers of a lgill frame at opposite ends of the top roller in which the force may be adjusted from a single point.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for applying a resilient force `on thetop roller of the drafting rollers of agill frame atopposite ends of the top roller in which the said force may be applied and released aby -manual operation of a single handle withoutrdisturbing the adjustment of the spring pressure.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a movable abutment for engaging the compression springs of the top roller of ithe draft rollers of a gill frame, which said abutment. may be moved from a single pointfor adjusting :the pressure of such springs and whichmay bemoved for releasing the pressure of such springsf'without disturbing the adjustmentof such's-prings.

Another object of the invention-is to'provide a movable abutment for the compression springs of the top roller of a gill drawing -frametoengage therein, which said abutment will be supported merely lby its physical contact with the ,55

said springs and whichV maybe Vmoved at a single point thereon in a manner whereby the force applied thereto will be equalized on the springs compressed thereby.

With these and other objects in view, -theinvention consists of certain novel features of construction as will 'be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a gill drawing frame illustrating the mountings of the front drawing rollers and the position relative to the gill head.

Figure gis a front elevational View of -the 4frame shown in Figure l'looking in the direction ofthe arrows on line 2-2 of Figure 1 with certain por'- tions shown Yin Figure 1 omitted.

Figure 3 is a section view taken substantially along line 3.-,3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 isa perspective view of an abutment for one end of the top roller springs to engage.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, ID designates a gill drawing frame illustrating the side frames I vI between which is mounted the gill head I2 of any conventional manufacture, having usual combs for processing wool slivers or other materials in a usual manner, the wool slivers being drawn from the combs by means of a frontldrafting roll set designated generally I3. Each lower roller I4-V I 5 of the said set I3 is provided with extensions or journaled in bearings YI8 which are adjustably Alilre synthetic material so as to provide ayielding surface for contacting and providing a biteon the sliver passed between the said top and bot'- tom rollers. The top roller is mounted a supporting frame 2,2 comprising two v'arms-23v lse,- cured to each other at their upper ends archan- .nel `bar .2li extending transversely between the said arms and secured in place byboltsZ. The other orlower ends of the arms ;2 ,3 areeach provided With an opening 26 .extending therethrough which openingsare in line with -each other. A pivotpin 21 proiectsinwardlyfrom each bearing I8 mtosaid openings 2,6 for pivotahly mounting said arms 23 for swingably moving said support. 22

from .a substantially horizontal position to agenerally verticalposition as seen in vFigure 1. A

The top roller IS is positioned to engage both the said lower rollers |4-l5 to provide a bite therebetween and is rotatably held in position on said frame by bearings 28 which are slidably secured on the arms 23 by means of cap bolts 23 which extend through slots 33 in the arms 23 and threadably engage the said bearings 28. The bearings are positioned above the trunnions 2% of the top roller and the lower edges of the bearings are each provided with a semi-circular bearing recess 3l, in which said trunnion 2Q rests. Each bearing 23 is also provided with a spring positioning projection 32 which is of relatively short length. A compression spring 33 is positioned to rest against the upper side of each bearing 28 and encircles the said projection 32 which holds the said spring in proper relationV with the said bearing 28.

An abutment for the other or upper ends of the springs 33 is provided in the present embodiment of the invention by a bar 34 having a central recess 35 and with enlarged circular heads 36 at the ends thereof. Each head is the same and has a recess 31 (see Fig. 1) in the lower side thereof which also opens outwardly axially in line with said bar as at 38. The bar is positioned to extend transversely between the arms 23, and the springs 33 are received in said recesses 31 to abut against the bottom wall 39 of the recesses.

The channel bar 24 is provided with a central bearing opening 43- in line with the said recess 35 and surrounded by a boss 4I. A sleeve 42, the lower end of which is internally threaded, is rotatably and slidably received in said opening 43. The upper portion of said sleeve 42 extends above the boss 4l and has a collar 43 secured thereto as by means of a screw 44. A rod 45 extends radially from said collar 43 and provides a handle for turning said sleeve in said opening 43. The lower end of the sleeve 42 extends a substantial distance beyond the lower side'of the bar 24 and has secured on the end portion thereof a circular ,member having a cam 43 on its upper face, the

cam 41 of which faces inwardly or toward said lower side of the bar 24. A second circular member 48 having a similar cam on its lower surface 49 matching thesaid cam surface 41 surrounds the sleeve 42 and is provided with opposite arms U which engage the under side of the bar 24 and are attached thereto by means of bolts 5i. A threaded member 52 Yhaving a knurled head 53 threadingly extends through said sleeve 42 so that its rounded end will be received in said recess 35 to engage the bottom wall 35' thereof, said recess 35 being of than the diameter of the member 52.

It will now be apparent that the pressure of the springs on the heads 315` will move the bar 34 upwardly and through the member 52 will urge said cams 45-48 into engagement with each other. Turning the member 52 in one direction or other will adjust the force on said bar 34 substantially midway thereof by adjustment of the tension of the springs 33, the force of the member 52 being equalized on the springs 33.

It will also be apparent that turning this sleeve 42 in one direction will position the high point of the cams in engagement with each other and position the bar 34 at its lower position which will hold the springs 33 under compression. Turning the sleeve 42 in the opposite direction or further turning the same in the same direction will cause the high points of the cams to ride beyond each other and each will engage the lower point of the other as seen in Figure 2 whereby the much larger diameter 4 bar 34 under the urge of the springs 33 will be raised.

In operation the sleeve 4B is turned to position the high points of the cams in engagement with each other at which position the bar 34 as previously stated will be at the lower position of movement as urged by the said cams iE- 48. The member 52 may now be turned in the proper direction to adjust the pressure of the springs 33 to that required on the roller i9. Since the force of the member 52 is applied at the mid point of the member 34, the ends or heads 3G of said bar 34 will be equally moved against such springs engaged thereby, and thus an equal adjustment of spring pressure is had at the ends of the roller I9 by theapplication of a force at a single point. When the gill frame or machine is to remain idle for such a period as over night or week-ends and like periods of inactivity, the operator relieves the pressure of the springs 33 on the roller by a simple turning of the handle 45 to turn the sleeve to position the high point of one cam in engagement with the low point of the opposite cam, thereby freeing said bar to be raised to permit the expansion of said springs to zero pressure, this being accomplished, of course, without disturbing the pre-set adjustment of the position of the member 34 relative to the'sleeve 42. At this position of member 34 the top roller i9 will rest only by its weight on the lower rollers lx1-l5, and this is insufcient to deform the surface of the top roller in a manner for a permanent set at the points of contact with the lower rollers 4-!5. When the machine is again to be placed in operation, the sleeve is turned to position the high points of the cams in engagement with each other as shown in Figure 3 to move the springs 33 into compression at the preset adjustment of tension thereof.

When it becomes necessary to remove the top roller I9 from the machine to provide repairs or substitute another roller, it is merely necessary to permit the springs sure by means of turning the sleeve 42 to permit raising of member 34. At this position of spring expansion the springs are easily removed by pulling the same out through the opening 38 of the recesses 3l. Then the bolts 29 may be loosened to disengage the same from the bearings 28, and the latter may be lifted from the trunnions 23. The roller i9 is now free of the bearings and may be easily pulled from between the frame 22, thus saving considerable labor over that of prior construction wherein the removal of the top roller i9 involved considerable dismantling of top roller supporting structure.

I claim: Y

1. In a gill drawing frame having a top pressure roller, a compression spring at each end of the top pressure roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, a movable abutment for one end of said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs tending to move said abutment in a direction to permit expansion of said springs, means for applying a force on said Aabutment at a mid point thereon for adjustably moving said abutment to adjust the pressure of said springs on said top roller, and second means operable for releasing said abutment to the action of the spring pressure thereon for releasing the pressure of said springs on said top roller and for moving said abutment against the pressure of said springs to return said springs in the adjusted compression relation thereof with said top roller. Y

33 to expand to zero'pres- 2. In a gill drawing frame having atop pressure roller, a compression spring at each end of the top pressure'roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, a movabl "butt-nent for one end of said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs tending to vnieve said abutment in a direction to permitexpansion of said springs, means for applying a force on said abutment at a mid point thereon for adjustably moving said abutment to adjust the pressure of said springs on said topY roller, and cam means operable for releasing said abutment from the action of the spring pressure thereon for releasing the pressure of said springs on said top roller and for moving said abutment against the pressure of said springs toret'u'rn said springs to the adjusted compression relation thereof with said top roller.

3. In a gill drawing framel having a top pressure roller, a compression spring at each end of the top pressure roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, a movable abutment extending between and engaging said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs tending to move said abutment in a direction to permit expansion of said springs, means for applying a force on said abutment at a mid point thereon for adjustably moving said abutment to adjust the pressure of said springs on said top roller, and second means operable for releasing said abutment from the action of said spring pressure thereon for releasing the pressure of said springs on said top roller and for moving said abutment in a direction against the pressure of said springs to return said springs in the adjusted compression relation thereof with said top roller.

4. In a gill drawing frame having a top pressure roller, a compression spring at each end of the top pressure roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, means for adjusting the pressure of said springs and for quickly releasing the pressure of said springs on said top roller comprising a raising and lowering member engaging said springs, said member being under pressure of said springs tending to move said member in a direction to permit expansion of said springs, means engaging said member at a central location thereof to adjust the pressure of said springs and further means operable for lowering said member against the pressure of said springs to place the same under compression and operable for permitting said member to be raised by expansion of said springs.

5. In a gill drawing frame having a top pressure roller, a compression spring at each end of the top pressure roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, a support, an abutment movable relative to said support and extending between and providing an abutment for one end of said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs tending to move said abutment in a direction to permit expansion of said springs, a rotatable member carried by said support and mounted for turning movement thereof and for axial movement' thereof, a threaded member threadedly extending through said rotatable member into engagement with said abutment at a location thereon midway thereof for adjustably moving said abutment axially of said springs for adjusting the pressure thereof, and interengaging means carried by said support and rotatable member for moving said rotatable member axially thereof upon rotatably turning said rotatable member.

extending between and providing an` abutment for one end of said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs' tending to move said abutment a direction to permit expansion of said springs, a` rotatable member carried by said support and mounted for turning movement thereof and for axial movement thereof, a threaded member threadedly extending through said rotatable member into engagement with said abutment at a location thereon midway thereof for adjustably moving said abutment axially of said springs' for adjusting the pressure thereof, and interengaging cam means carried by said support and rotatable member for moving said rotatable member axially thereof upon rotatably turning said rotatable member.

'7.V Iri` a gill drawing frame having a top .pressure roller, a compression 'spring at each end of the top pressure roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, a support, an abutment movable relative to said support and extending between and providing an abutment for one end of said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs tending to move said abutment in a direction to permit expansion of said springs, a sleeve carried by said support and mounted thereon for turning and axial movement thereof, a threaded member threadedly extending through said sleeve into engagement with said abutment at a location thereon midway thereof for adjustably moving said abutment axially of said springs for adjusting the pressure thereof, and interengaging means carried by said support and sleeve for moving said sleeve axially thereof upon rotatably turning said sleeve.

8. In a gill drawing frame having a top pressure roller, a compression spring at each end of the top pressure roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, a support, an abutment movable relative to said support and extending between and providing an abutment for one end of said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs tending to move said abutment in a direction to permit expansion of said springs, a sleeve mounted on said support for rotatable movement and for axial movement thereof, a threaded member threadedly extending through said sleeve into engagement with said abutment at a location thereon midway thereof for adjustably moving said abutment axially of said springs for adjusting the pressure thereof on said top roller, a cam fixed to said support, a cam carried by said sleeve extending into engagement with said rst cam, said cams being related such as to move said sleeve axially to lower or permit raising of said abutment upon turning of said sleeve.

9. In a gill drawing frame having a top pressure roller, a compression spring at each end of the top pressure roller for applying an adjustable pressure on said top roller, a support, an abutment movable relative to said support and extending between and providing an abutment for one end of said springs, said abutment being under pressure of said springs tending to move said abutment in a direction to permit expansion of said springs, a sleeve mounted on said support for rotatable and axial movement thereof, a threaded member threadedly extending through said sleeve into engagement with said abutment at a location thereon midway thereof zfor adjustably moving said abutment axially of said springs for adjusting the pressure thereof on said top roller, a cam fixed to said support and encircling said sleeve, a cam encircling said sleeve and secured thereto for moving therewith and extending into engagement with said rst cam, said cams being related such as to move said sleeve axially to lower or permit raising of said abutment upon turning of said sleeve.

10. In a gill drawing frame having a top roller, a support for the top roller, spaced bearings slidably carried by said support and each having a semi-circular bearing recess for engaging the upper side of said top roller, an abutment movable relative to said support and positioned at a location above said top roller and extending generally parallel therewith and with the ends thereof extending in line with said bearings, a compression spring positioned between each bearing and said abutment for applying a pressure on said top roller, a sleeve mounted on said support for turning movement and for axial movement, a threaded member threadedly extending through said sleeve into engagement with said abutment for adjustably moving said abutment relative to said support and axially of said springs for adjusting the pressure of said springs, and interengaging means carried by said support and said sleeve for moving said sleeve axially t-o lower or permit raising of said abutment upon turning of said sleeve.

RALPH C. BERKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 818,707 Ormondroyd et al Apr. 24, 1996 1,923,593 Spring Aug. 22, 1933 2,307,670 Cunningham Jan. 5, 1943 FGREIGN PATENTS Number Countr37 Date 2,749 Great Britain of 1857 178,221 Great Britain Apr. 20, 1922 

